

As you can see I’ve spent the past 44 years really upping my grooming game.
Actually I do feel a kinship with that snarky moptop, more so than most of my other selves. LA at 14 had a pretty solid idea of what she was about. LA at 58 is a bit iffy as to direction once I’m sprung from my commodious isolation chamber, but I am damn certain of what I will not accept anymore. And the #1 thing I refuse to accept anymore is cruelty. Most especially I am challenging those who slather their cruelty with disingenuous moral outrage. Pro-Life but actively work against any policy or program that actually helps families? Cruel. Next time I see your sanctimonious asses waving your murky jars and your shaming signboards aloft outside the Planned Parenthood I am pulling over and we’re going to have a conversation. No shouting. But no promises I won’t smack a bitch with her own sign if I think it’ll help.
Those attacking trans people and defying all human decency, those cruel cruel GOPers are seriously undermining the glue of society itself by denying and interfering with children’s medical care! Gah! Like anything nasty – cruelty spreads. It spreads well beyond its intended targets. For instance Florida’s new hate law rushed through to protect the sanctity of JV field hockey from the predations of sneaky trans athletes who are lining up by the thousands to out-muscle cis athletes, the new Florida law gives adults such as teachers and coaches and sports ‘volunteers’ legal permission TO PHYSICALLY EXAMINE A CHILD’S GENITALS FOR GENDER CONFORMITY! This is any child, btw. In any situation thought to present an ‘unfair’ advantage against cis kids. So how about that? No potential for abuse there, eh? Pervy Cousin Jeremy certainly won’t be ‘volunteering’ at Little League. Old Groping Greg the cheerleading coach absolutely would NEVER insist on inspecting ‘his girls’ for hidden penises, though he’ll likely insist on hiding his own penis inside all ‘his girls’ just to make sure. Adults are legally allowed to fondle all children’s naked genitals to ‘protect’ them from trans kids playing volleyball. Wow. WTG, Florida.
Whether out of common feeling or just mutual shared interest in staying alive you simply cannot ‘other’ people and expect things to work. The imbalance is too much. We’ve been othering Black people in this country for over 400 years and not once yet have we truly lived up to our potential as a nation. Too busy monitoring the Black people for signs of self-determination and then working frantically to pass more laws against breathing ‘loudly’ while Black, etc, etc. Then at federal government give-aways they load police with military-grade weaponry and almost zero training in community relations, peaceful resolutions, and just plain old common sense, have police unions back even the most egregious, blatant crimes committed by cops, and send this under-trained, often poorly educated, pack of angry arrogant bullies out on the world. A world just chock full of ‘others’ that the government, the bosses, and your buddies say it’s totally okay to fuck with. Stuff done to ‘others’ doesn’t count.

I. Refuse. Nope. Not anymore. I’m not talking about futile go-rounds with trolls. Nor even battling ignorance with facts. Doesn’t work. But when faced with cruelty I am going to challenge it. Make the doer explain themselves. And keep explaining until that glowing nugget of fear and hate and sick joy that’s at the heart of most cruelties is laid bare. That horrible warty nasty glob of yuck and I will insist they defend that. Defend this yuck, go ahead, I’m waiting.
“You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ’em get your goat. Try fightin’ with your head for a change.” – Atticus Finch
Imma try, Atticus.
Be safe. Get your shots. Wear a mask (yes, still). Love you lots! ~LA